Residents of Noyem, a farming and mining community in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region, are threatening to resist the operations of a large-scale mining company, Akroma Gold Company Limited, in the area.
The miners, who were previously farmers, both male and female, young and old, have invaded a newly acquired concession of the mining company and have connected electricity deep down into the mine shaft, mining day and night with explosives.
According to the mining company, it was brought to their attention that the illegal miners were using explosives deep down in the shaft, which caused structures and properties in the area to shake whenever there was a blast.
The company, which moved in to reclaim the land and cover up the shaft with their task force, met strong resistance from the miners and residents.
The residents, who have admitted to engaging in illegal mining, or “galamsey,” in an interview with Citi News Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku, accused the Chief of Noyem of selling off family lands to the mining company.
One resident accused the chief of selling off the land to the company and said there were no jobs in the village, so they had no other option but to resort to mining.
Another said the activity had also given about 1,500 youths employment in the town, and they were making a living out of it.
“We just started, and we owe the sponsor of our equipment about GHS2 billion, and the chief knows about this. So we don’t know what to do now, that’s why the youth are agitating. Almost 1,500 people benefit and make a living out of this activity,” he added.
A woman also criticized the chief for allowing the company to come in to reclaim the site, saying that was her source of income for feeding her family.
She wondered why the chief would sell off the land, as they were not mining close to any water body.
The Deputy Director in charge of Operations for Akroma Gold, Emmanuel Mintah, said the decision to reclaim the mine sites was to prevent a recurrence of the Obuasi incident, where some illegal miners who invaded a concession were trapped in a mine shaft.
Mr. Mintah further gave an assurance to the community that the company would employ as many people as possible when they start operations.